Newsletter

Letter: Next election, we deserve better than Donald Trump

In this Aug. 30, 2017 photo, President Donald Trump speaks about tax reform at the Loren Cook Company in Springfield, Mo. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

After yet another disastrous week for the Trump presidency, we’ve all learned some painful lessons about why it’s important to consider more than our own self-interest when we cast our votes. Many otherwise intelligent and well-meaning individuals who had doubts about the character and fitness for public office of Trump still ended up voting for him last November.

They rationalized this decision by saying he would become more “presidential” after the election (he hasn’t); or that he could “get things done” in Washington, D.C. (nope); or that he would surround himself with qualified and capable people (not so much); or that, regardless of how reckless and unqualified he might be, he was the “lesser of two evils” (doubtful).

I’m disappointed in many of my fellow Republicans who ignored their common sense and voted for Trump simply because of his party affiliation. I’m disappointed in many in the business community who should have known better, but who supported Trump because they thought he could reduce their taxes and eliminate regulations. That was more important to them than whether he was reckless and unhinged and could get us into a nuclear war.

And finally, I’m disappointed in the millions of evangelical voters who were convinced by their misguided leaders to support Trump. The scriptures tell us that “by their fruits we should know them,” meaning that you can tell someone’s true character by how they behave, and not by what they say or promise. Most folks would hold their local pastor or high school principal to a higher standard, but somehow millions of good Christians turned a blind eye to the decidedly un-Christian and erratic behavior of the man they supported for president.

Next time, let’s remember that character and experience do matter — our country deserves better.